A Desert Mirage High School teacher who is facing child sexual exploitation charges was captured by an undercover child sex sting after he allegedly tried to meet a 14-year-old girl he had contacted online through Craigslist.

Anthony Robert Korwin, 59 of Vista, was arrested on June 5 and is currently being held in the Imperial County jail. He has pleaded not guilty.

Details of Korwin’s arrest were made public in a Homeland Security Investigations press release on Tuesday. The release makes it clear the alleged crime is not directly connected to Desert Mirage High, where Korwin works as a green energy and technology teacher.

The news release says the investigation into Korwin began in response to a Craigslist ad posted online. The details of the Craigslist ad were not provided, but it somehow led investigators to Korwin, who was caught when he tried to meet the girl for sex.

“During the investigation, Korwin allegedly agreed to meet a 14-year-old girl at a parking lot in El Centro. When Korwin arrived at the location, he was taken into custody,” the news release states.

The sting was conducted by the Imperial Valley Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force.

According to court documents, Korwin has been charged with several felony counts including lewd act with a child, contact with a minor to commit a sexual offense and meeting a minor for lewd purposes.

Korwin is being represented by the local public defender’s office, which previously declined to comment. Coachella Valley Unified, which has employed Korwin since 2012, has not responded to requests for comment on his arrest.

Reporter Brett Kelman can be reached by phone at (760) 778-4642, by email at brett.kelman@desertsun.com, or on Twitter @TDSbrettkelman.